In the past couple of years, the Indian automotive sector has seen a massive rise in the compact sub 4 meter SUV segment. Almost every automaker has a product from their line-up competing in this segment to claim the title of being the best. As a customer, you too are spoilt for choice depending on what specific budget you have set. So we at Top Gear India have curated a detailed specification comparison between all the compact SUVs on sale in India.
Dimensions
| Ford EcoSport | Hyundai Venue | Kia Sonet | Mahindra XUV 300 | Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza | Nissan Magnite | Renault Kiger | Tata Nexon | Toyota Urban Cruiser | |
| Length | 3998mm | 3995mm | 3995mm | 3995mm | 3995mm | 3994mm | 3991mm | 3994mm | 3995mm |
| Width | 1765mm | 1770mm | 1790mm | 1821mm | 1790mm | 1758mm | 1750mm | 1811mm | 1790mm |
| Height | 1647mm | 1590mm | 1647mm | 1617mm | 1640mm | 1572mm | 1600mm | 1607mm | 1640mm |
| Wheelbase | 2519mm | 2500mm | 2500mm | 2600mm | 2500mm | 2500mm | 2500mm | 2498mm | 2500mm |
| Boot Capacity | 352 litres | 350 litres | 392 litres | 257 litres | 328 litres | 336 litres | 405 litres | 350 litres | 328 litres |
| Fuel Tank Volume | 52 litres | 40 litres | 45 litres | 42 litres | 48 litres | 40 litres | 40 litres | 44 litres | 48 litres |
| Wheel Size | 16-inch alloys | 16-inch alloys | 16-inch alloys | 17-inch alloys | 16-inch alloys | 16-inch alloys | 16-inch alloys | 16-inch alloys | 16-inch alloys |
As it is visible from the chart above, all the offerings in this segment share a similar dimension, with the Renault Kiger being the smallest in terms of length and width. In terms of length, the Ford EcoSport with its 3998mm is the longest in this class, and the Mahindra XUV 300 seems to be the widest offering with its 1821mm in this segment.
Another aspect where all the vehicles in the segment are similar is the wheelbase offered. Most of the compact SUVs have a 2500mm wheelbase apart from the Tata Nexon, which with its 2498mm wheelbase, is the shortest in this class and on the other spectrum, the Mahindra XUV 300 is the longest with its 2600mm wheelbase.
Petrol Engines
| Ford EcoSport | Hyundai Venue | Kia Sonet | Mahindra XUV 300 | Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza | Nissan Magnite | Renault Kiger | Tata Nexon | Toyota Urban Cruiser | |
| Cubic Capacity | 1497cc | 1197cc and 998cc | 1197cc and 998cc | 1197cc | 1462cc | 999cc | 999cc | 1198cc | 1462cc |
| Cylinders | 3 cyl | 4-cyl & 3-cyl turbo | 4-cyl & 3-cyl turbo | 3-cyl turbo | 4-cyl | 3-cyl & 3-cyl turbo | 3-cyl & 3-cyl turbo | 3-cyl turbo | 4-cyl |
| Power | 122bhp | 83bhp & 120bhp | 83bhp & 120bhp | 110bhp | 105bhp | 72bhp & 100bhp | 72bhp & 100bhp | 120bhp | 105bhp |
| Torque | 149NM | 115Nm & 172NM | 115Nm & 172NM | 200Nm | 138Nm | 96/160Nm & 152Nm | 96/160Nm & 152Nm | 149Nm | 138Nm |
| Manual | 5-Speed | 5-speed/6-speed iMT | 5-speed/6-speed iMT | 6-speed | 5-speed | 5-speed | 5-speed | 5-speed | 5-speed |
| Automatic | 6-Speed Torque Converter | 7-Speed DCT | 7-Speed DCT | 6-speed AMT | 4-speed torque converter | 5-Speed CVT | 5-Speed AMT | 6-speed AMT | 4-speed torque converter |
In this segment, customers are spoilt for choice regarding engine options ranging from naturally aspirated 1-litre engines to 1-litre turbocharged engines that go all the way to a 1.5-litre petrol engine. On the one hand, you have the Kiger and Magnite, which in their naturally aspirated guise offer only 72 bhp. In contrast, on the other end, you have the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated 3-cylinder engine in the Ford EcoSport, producing 122bhp.
Even in terms of gearbox options, customers can opt for a 5-speed manual that most models in this segment offer apart from the XUV 300 and Nexon, which offer a 6-speed manual instead, while the Venue and Sonet offer the smart 6-speed iMT clutchless manual gearboxes. Suppose you are looking to buy an automatic. In that case, you have a range of options such as the 5-speed CVT gearbox offered in the Kiger and Magnite, the Nexon and XUV300 offer an AMT unit, the Venue and Sonet are available with DCT autos. At the same time, the Vitara Brezza, Urban Cruiser and EcoSport all are mated to a torque converter gearbox.
Prices
| Ford EcoSport | Hyundai Venue | Kia Sonet | Mahindra XUV 300 | Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza | Nissan Magnite | Renault Kiger | Tata Nexon | Toyota Urban Cruiser | |
| Prices (ex-showroom India) | ₹7.99 to ₹11.19 lakh | ₹6.87 to ₹11.49 lakh | ₹6.71 to ₹12.89 lakh | ₹7.95 to 11.76 lakh | ₹7.39 to ₹11.20 lakh | ₹5.49 to ₹9.45 lakh | ₹5.45 to ₹9.55 lakh | ₹7.10 to ₹11.30 lakh | ₹8.50 to ₹11.35 lakh |
Now the price is something that would be the most crucial aspect to look at before any buyer’s next purchase. The Compact SUV segment is really segregated in terms of price. At one end, you have the Renault Kiger and Nissan Magnite being the cheapest offering in this segment, while the Kia Sonet is the most expensive towards the top end of the chart, followed by the Mahindra XUV 300.
